“La!” Monty gushed. “So much handsomeness and beauty is coming toward us, Miss Mary Blake!”
She’d always admired his ability to turn off and on his silly persona. The man should really be treading the boards at Drury Lane—he would make an absolute fortune.
Zach was holding the hand of Forrest Howarth’s daughter, Ella. Her heart squeezed at seeing the way he smiled down at the child.
Monty’s fingers pinched her arm. The small sting of pain was just what she needed.
“And now if you will release me, I can get back to my family, Lord Plunge. I have told you the crimson is far too gaudy and yet you purchased it. One wonders why you needed me!”
She stepped away from Monty and then glared at him.
“Never ask me to select your fabrics again!”
“My heart is broken!” Monty fished a handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it to his nose. “How can you say such hurtful things to me? That crimson is exquisite!”
“Problem?” Zach said.
“No. Excuse me, I must return to my family. That is twenty minutes of my life I will never get back,” Mary then uttered.
“Why are you being dramatic, Mary?” Beth asked.
“I am not being dramatic. But Lord Plunge insisted he needed a woman’s opinion on his fabric choice, and Phillipa refused, so I went.”
“You are never petulant either,” Dimity said.
Clearly in her haste to throw the Devilles off the scent, her acting skills had failed her.
“I am not feeling quite myself today. Forgive me, Lord Plunge.” She then dropped into a curtsey.
“Here.” Monty thrust a handkerchief her way. “This will help revive your flagging spirits, my dear sweet lady.”
Mary took the scrap of lavender-infused material.
“Are you well after your altercation last night, Lord Plunge?” Zach asked.
Mary shot him a look, but she saw no suspicion in his eyes.
“I was quite fatigued when I returned to my home, as was my cousin. But our spirits were revived after a good night’s sleep,” Monty said. “To be set upon like that by those ruffians was terrifying. Many thanks to you, sir, for your help.” Monty smiled at Zach.
“And your cousin? Is she here with you today?” Nathan Deville asked.
“No, Lucienne does not like fairs.” Plunge sighed theatrically. “She is resting today after the night’s activities. We shall share a light supper when I return home. But she has commissioned me to purchase her some sweets.”
“Well then, don’t let us hold you up,” Lord Raine said. “It would not do to have them sold out.”
Monty bowed deeply all the while waving his handkerchief about. He then rose and minced away with his two footmen in tow. The man could certainly make an exit.
“Would you like to walk with us, Mary?” Beth asked.
“I must return to my family first, Beth. I will see you later.”
Her friend frowned at her like something was not quite right, but she couldn’t place what.
“You want to return to your family?”
“I need to assure Mother I am all right.” She didn’t meet her friend’s eyes. “She asked me to do so when I returned from accompanying Lord Plunge.”
“I’ll escort you. It is not a place to walk about alone,” Zach said.
